Associate Director / Director, IT

Associate Director / Director, IT Korsana Biosciences, Inc. – Waltham, Massachusetts, United States About Us Korsana Biosciences is a private biopharmaceutical company advancing a pipeline of potential best‑in‑class therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. In partnership with Paragon Therapeutics, we have developed Therapeutic Targeting (THETA™), a novel blood‑brain‑barrier‑penetrant shuttle platform designed to enable dramatically higher drug concentration inside the brain and overcome the limitations of earlier shuttle technologies. Our lead program is KRSA‑028, an investigational, shuttled antibody targeting amyloid beta designed to be a best‑in‑class treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Our mission is to advance precision‑engineered therapies, designed to address some of the biggest unmet needs in medicine. Position Overview The Associate Director / Director of Information Technology is responsible for the day‑to‑day operation, administration, and continuous improvement of the organization's IT infrastructure, information security controls, enterprise applications, and end‑user computing environment. The role serves as the primary technical lead for IT operations, combining hands‑on technical execution with leadership of external service providers and contribution to strategic initiatives. The successful candidate will manage infrastructure, security operations, systems administration, troubleshooting, and project delivery through a combination of direct individual contribution and effective delegation to, and oversight of, the organization’s IT Managed Services Provider (MSP). This is a highly visible role that requires someone who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves to solve technical challenges while also partnering with senior management on strategy, governance initiatives, and key business projects. Responsibilities IT Operations, Infrastructure & Systems Administration Serve as the primary owner of day‑to‑day IT operations across in‑office and remote work environments. Perform hands‑on administration of Microsoft 365, Entra ID (Azure AD), endpoint management platforms, collaboration tools, cloud services, and other enterprise applications. Manage and support physical and wireless network infrastructure, VPNs, firewalls, storage systems, and cloud‑based resources. Configure, deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot endpoints, software, and business‑critical systems. Monitor system performance, availability, capacity, and security, proactively addressing issues before they impact operations. Manage backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions. Lead technical implementation efforts for new systems, infrastructure upgrades, and technology rollouts. Maintain hardware, software, licensing, and IT asset inventories. MSP & Vendor Management Act as the primary point of contact for the Managed Services Provider (MSP), directing priorities, reviewing performance, and ensuring timely issue resolution. Determine which activities are retained internally versus outsourced to service providers. Escalate and resolve complex technical issues that require direct internal involvement. Partner with vendors on deployments, upgrades, migrations, and troubleshooting activities. Participate directly in system implementations and infrastructure projects alongside external partners. Cybersecurity & Compliance Maintain and continuously improve the organization's cybersecurity posture through hands‑on administration of security technologies and processes. Administer security platforms including endpoint protection, email security, vulnerability management, identity security, and monitoring tools. Conduct periodic reviews of user access, security controls, and system configurations. Lead incident response activities, investigations, root‑cause analysis, and remediation efforts. Develop, maintain, and enforce IT and information security policies, standards, and procedures. Support audit readiness, ITGC controls, cybersecurity assessments, and compliance initiatives. End‑User Support & Service Delivery Provide escalation support for complex technical issues affecting employees and business operations. Partner with Human Resources to support employee onboarding, off‑boarding, equipment provisioning, and access management. Continuously improve IT service delivery processes and user experience. Develop technical documentation, procedures, and knowledge base resources. Serve as a trusted technology resource for employees across all functions. Strategic/Business Partnership Work closely with Senior Leadership to contribute to the development and execution of the organization's technology roadmap. Provide technical leadership on key initiatives, ensuring successful implementation and operational adoption. Evaluate emerging technologies and provide recommendations regarding infrastructure, security, cloud services, automation, and AI‑enabled solutions. Participate in IT budgeting, forecasting, vendor selection, and technology planning activities. Help establish scalable processes, governance frameworks, and operational standards to support company growth. Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field. 8+ years of IT experience, with emphasis on hands‑on execution. 3+ years managing infrastructure, systems administration, cybersecurity, or IT operations. Experience managing MSPs and external technology vendors. Experience supporting cloud‑based environments and Microsoft 365 ecosystems. Experience supporting technology needs in a biotech, life sciences, or other regulated or data‑intensive environment strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience implementing and managing core IT systems in a growing organization. Experience supporting office buildouts or workplace technology implementations. Familiarity with AI tools and the development of usage guidelines or governance frameworks is a plus. Skills & Attributes Comfortable working independently in a lean environment while leveraging MSP and vendor resources effectively. Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues across infrastructure, applications, and security domains. Strong project execution skills with a bias toward action and problem solving. Ability to balance tactical operational responsibilities with longer‑term strategic initiatives. Strong judgment and risk awareness, particularly around data security, privacy, and system reliability. Clear communicator who can translate technical concepts for non‑technical stakeholders. Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and vendors simultaneously. Korsana Biosciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr